The Grand Stadium of Marrakech is a premier sports complex located 11 kilometres north of downtown Marrakech, Morocco. With a capacity of 45,240 seats, it combines modernity and versatility, offering world-class facilities for football and athletics, as well as a vibrant atmosphere for national and international competitions.
History and Development
Construction of the stadium began in September 2003 and was completed in January 2011. The project was designed to host high-level sporting events and meet international standards. The stadium was inaugurated on 5 January 2011 with matches between Wydad AC and Paris Saint-Germain, and between Kawkab of Marrakech and Olympique Lyonnais. The very first goal in the stadium’s history was scored by Mouhcine Iajour of Wydad AC against PSG.
The complex includes an auxiliary stadium with 5,000 seats and an athletics track, a 1,000 m² media centre, medical and first-aid facilities, and a parking area with 7,500 spaces. The royal stand has 200 seats, the VIP stand 600, and 700 seats are dedicated to spectators with disabilities.
International Matches and Key Events
Since its opening, the Marrakech Stadium has hosted numerous international matches and major competitions. On 5 January 2011, two prestigious fixtures marked the inauguration of the venue: Wydad AC faced Paris Saint-Germain (1–1), while Kawkab of Marrakech held Olympique Lyonnais to a draw (0–0).
Official Competitions Hosted
Beyond friendly matches, the Marrakech Stadium has established itself as a major venue for international competitions. It has hosted several qualification matches for the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations in 2012, 2013, and 2017.
It was also one of the host stadiums for the FIFA Club World Cups in 2013 and 2014, as well as the TotalEnergies CAF African Nations Championship in 2018. More recently, it hosted the CAF Women’s Olympic Qualifiers in 2024, including the first-leg match of the second round between Namibia and Morocco (0–2).
Finally, the stadium has been the stage for major athletics competitions, including the 2014 African Championships and the Continental Cup in Athletics that same year.
TotalEnergies CAF AFCON 2025 in Marrakech
For the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations 2025, the Marrakech Stadium will host six group-stage matches, one Round of 16 match, and one quarter-final:
- Match 4: 22 December 2025 – South Africa vs Angola (Group B, 20:30)
- Match 11: 24 December 2025 – Côte d’Ivoire vs Mozambique (Group F, 18:00)
- Match 16: 26 December 2025 – Zimbabwe vs Angola (Group B, 20:30)
- Match 23: 28 December 2025 – Côte d’Ivoire vs Cameroon (Group F, 18:00)
- Match 28: 29 December 2025 – Zimbabwe vs South Africa (Group B, 20:30)
- Match 35: 31 December 2025 – Gabon vs Côte d’Ivoire (Group F, 20:30)
- Match 44: 6 January 2026 – 1st Group F vs 2nd Group E (Round of 16, 20:30)
- Match 46: 10 January 2026 – Winner of Match 43 vs Winner of Match 42 (Quarter-final, time to be determined)
